Surfactant-assisted synthesis of hybrid lithium iron phosphate nanoparticles for enhancing electrochemical performance

Hybrid nanoparticles of LiFePO4 with carbon and lithium phosphates were synthesized through organic–inorganic co-assembly procedure using a triblock copolymer (F108 or P123). We found that the triblock copolymers play a critical role in controlling size of hybrid particle and the degree of crystallinity of the inorganic nanostructures. The hybrid using P-123 had more graphitic carbon which resulted in fast electron mobility. Also, magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) revealed that the crystallinity of the hybrid using P123 is higher than that using F108 which is not measurable in X-ray diffraction. Electrochemical performance of the hybrid using P123 as a cathode material in Li-ion batteries showed superior rate capability at 20 C of charging rate and 2 C of discharging rate without capacity loss, in which discharge capacity was 102 mAh/g.